Initial statement on social enterprise briefing paper

In early April a Ministerial briefing paper titled Government support for social enterprise was proactively released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)

The briefing paper includes the Government’s response to the recommendations created as part of the three-year $5m Government funded programme The Impact Initiative, as described in the final programme report A Roadmap for Impact.

Ākina, along with the Community Enterprise Network Trust (CENT), was a partner in this programme with DIA. Neither Ākina or CENT was involved in the writing of the briefing paper, or in formulating the government response to the recommendations.

Initial Ākina response to the briefing paper

We are encouraged to see that the briefing paper notes that the programme’s recommendations are largely in line with existing Government policy. That tells us we are working towards similar goals.

The paper also notes that subsequent actions around social enterprises will be taken as part of existing Government work programmes. We would have preferred bolder action on the recommendations, though the paper does suggest some opportunities for progression.

Before issuing a more fulsome response to the briefing paper, we first need to understand more about the work programmes that are referenced in the briefing, and any actions that may be underway.

Although the programme has now concluded, we will continue to engage with officials at MBIE and DIA in the coming weeks to seek clarity, and provide an update when we know more.